Brochin Plans To Request Recount In Baltimore Co. Race

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Monday, July 9, 2018
Tyler Waldman, WBAL NewsRadio 1090

Credit: File photo/WBAL

With the vote set to be certified Tuesday, former state Del. John Olszewski Jr. holds a slim, nine-vote lead in the race for the Democratic nomination for Baltimore County executive. But even after it's certified, there might be another challenge to come, as state Sen. Jim Brochin intends to file for a recount.

"There needs to be certainty, and nine votes is very tight," Brochin, who placed second, told Robert Lang on WBAL News Now.

Under state law, the margin in the race is tight enough for Brochin to petition for a recount done at the expense of the county board of elections.

For his part, Olszewski told Brett Hollander, he has no problem with a recount, emphasizing the importance "that every vote be counted and every voice be heard."

"We never doubted. We knew that our vision for better schools and 21st century jobs and transparent government was resonating," Olszewski said. "It's been exciting, as a former government teacher, to--you know, I told my students that every vote matters, and it's been exciting to be able to prove that in this race here."

He credited his campaign's ground game and personal interactions with voters.

Brochin suggested the race narrowed as ads turned negative in the closing weeks. He blamed unsupported rumors spread by the Almond campaign and ads backed by developers.

Brochin talks to Robert Lang:

Whoever is declared the victor in the end will face state Insurance Commissioner Al Redmer Jr. in the fall. But will the intramural recount fracture Democratic unity? Olszewski said he doesn't believe so.

However, Brochin said he's worried about the feasibility of some of the ideas championed by the progressive wing of his party and by figures like Olszewski and gubernatorial nominee Ben Jealous.

"It certainly has the potential to divide the party and, when you think about it on a macro level, a lot of it is probably in response to the stuff Donald Trump has thrown at us, which is in a lot of cases horrific," Brochin said.